> Somehow I don´t get the elevated brake run and I am not
> sure what comes why the photo spot is after the brake.

Well, I assume the elevated brake run is to burn off speed and control the speed the train enters the final brakes at.

As for the on-ride photo spot, I didn't see it myself, but that is indeed an odd place to put it! I suppose the thinking behind it is people can compose themselves. I know I've had a lot of photos ruined because I looked like a goon!

> Somehow I don´t get the elevated brake run and I am not
> sure what comes why the photo spot is after the brake.

> Well, I assume the elevated brake run is to burn off speed
> and control the speed the train enters the final brakes at.

You're spot on. B&M uses the elevated brake run on their hypers now, both Behemoth and Diamondback are two prime examples. The other reason, I know for Intamin, is that they use the sloped brakerun is so they're not having to use kickers to move the train.

> As for the on-ride photo spot, I didn't see it myself, but
> that is indeed an odd place to put it! I suppose the
> thinking behind it is people can compose themselves. I know
> I've had a lot of photos ruined because I looked like a
> goon!

You looking like a goon...mwahahahahaha. :P I always look like I'm scared...ridiculous I tell yeah.

> You're spot on. B&M uses the elevated brake run on their
> hypers now, both Behemoth and Diamondback are two prime
> examples. The other reason, I know for Intamin, is that
> they use the sloped brakerun is so they're not having to
> use kickers to move the train.

Ah, that's exactly the sort of design minutiae that appeals to me.

> You looking like a goon...mwahahahahaha. :P I always look
> like I'm scared...ridiculous I tell yeah.

Once I rode Nemesis Inferno with a fellow coaster enthusiast - nice, polite lad - and even he laughed at my photo!

Yes, but the way B&M (and mostly Intamin) design their descending brake-runs does make sense: Using excessive energy, gentle braking and saving energy as the train glides into the service brakes and back into the station.

On Desert Race the train is braked as it goes down a hill and then it crawls through a banked turn. The already short ride could have had a much better finale if the final brake-run would be located before the station. Now, since they only altered the RITA design for Heide Park (despite no space restriction whatsoever) it is understandable that they did it to save money. But iSpeed has a brake-run that kills all the iSpeed only to have the train meander through a drop and a final curve. This looks like an unnecessary element in an otherwise amazing layout.

> Yes, but the way B&M (and mostly Intamin) design their
> descending brake-runs does make sense: Using excessive
> energy, gentle braking and saving energy as the train
> glides into the service brakes and back into the station.

> On Desert Race the train is braked as it goes down a hill
> and then it crawls through a banked turn. The already short
> ride could have had a much better finale if the final
> brake-run would be located before the station. Now, since
> they only altered the RITA design for Heide Park (despite
> no space restriction whatsoever) it is understandable that
> they did it to save money. But iSpeed has a brake-run that
> kills all the iSpeed only to have the train meander through
> a drop and a final curve. This looks like an unnecessary
> element in an otherwise amazing layout.

Yeah, I didn't quite understand the placement of the brake run there either. I'd understand if it were for a block, but such is not the case.